3 Review(s)

First Ecology: ecological principles and environmental issues provides a critical and evaluative introduction to the science of ecology. Alan Beeby and Anne-Maria Brennan present a succinct survey of ecology, describing and explaining the relationship between living organisms and their environment. The third edition of this popular book continues to introduce ecology from a human perspective. This view of humanity as part of the ecology of the planet makes the fundamental relevance of ecology to all life science students apparent throughout. First Ecology develops in sequence the core themes in ecology at each level of organisation - subcellular, population, ecosystem, landscape and planetary. Understanding this hierarchy - and the interplay between these levels - is crucial to the environmental decisions our species faces at the start of the twenty-first century. First Ecology is the ideal primer for you to develop this understanding. Key Features Specifically devised for first year life science students or students from other disciples taking ecology as a standalone unit: breadth and depth are perfectly balanced for a first course in ecology Assumes little background knowledge and leads students gradually into the subject to build understanding, making it ideal for students from a range of disciplines Uses a human angle to introduce ecological concepts in a way students will relate to and engage with, developing students' confidence at each step Detailed examples and case studies help build on the principles introduced in the text, allowing students to see ecological techniques in action Case studies in each chapter provide a captivating insight into how ecologists approach problems All diagrams are presented in full colour, and many new stunning photographs help students to visualise the concepts being described Expanded coverage of soil; climate change; biodiversity; competition; conservation and sustainability presents a true picture of ecology today About the Author Alan Beeby ,Reader in Ecology in the Department of Engineering, Science, and the Built Enviroment, London South Bank University, UK Anne-Marie Brennan ,Deputy Head of the Department of Engineering, Science, and the Built Enviroment, London South Bank University, UK Table of Contents 1. Origins Origins of humanity Evolution by natural selection The advantages of sex : the blooms and the bees Sources of variation Rates of evolution 2. Species What's in a name ? Origins of the major groups The Species Variation within a population Ecological niche Speciation 3. Populations Modelling Simple models of population growth Harvesting a population Growth rates, age, and recruitment Life history strategies Genetics and population size Survival and extinction 4. Interactions Acquiring resources Cooperation Competition Comsumerism Controlling pests 5. Communities Mediterranean communities Convergence and integration Change in communities Communities, change, and conservation 6. Systems Ecological energetics The producers Links in the chain The web Working the system 7. Balances The nutrient cycles of life Eutrophication-too much of a good thing Restoration-'the acid test of ecology' 8. Scales Landscape ecology The biogeography of Earth Climate change 9. Checks Predicting the number of species Extinction Ecological stability The big questions : latitudinal gradients in diversity The big questions: stability and sustainability Glossary References Index